Easter 1975
In the Seventies there were Palm Sunday processions through Hampstead, latterly to Parliament Hill to erect a huge cross, made from a telegraph pole, on that green hill not so far away. The cross in this photo (it’s 1975 says Marian Ward) is a bit more modest, but the procession is still spectacular. Leading it (from left) are Lawrence Hill and Keith Ward who, as curates-in-charge, had brilliantly and unconventionally supervised the interregnum between Ellie Hall’s departure and Graham Dowell’s arrival. On the right is the recently appointed Graham, who brought a sea-change to HPC.
Keith reckons this was then a Deanery event, though later it was taken over by Churches Together in Hampstead. Thinking back, he wonders why he is carrying the cross. Maybe it was just Graham’s humility – or maybe Graham wanted himself as Jesus, and Keith as Simon of Cyrene. But, as always, Lawrence is the one who looks most like Jesus. In fact, we often had to persuade the children he was not.
It looks like Heath Street – in which case is the procession coming down from a service at Whitestone Pond? One of the clergy is Bob Coogan, then, I think, an Area Dean, but do you know the others? Judy recognises the vestments, but do you remember anything else about this event, or our Easter processions in general? Let Church Chat know.